Meet
the Festival Musicians
All 101 musicians of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra are the Festival Musicians in 2026. Get to know Boris, Marie, Greg, Eirik, Ellena and Peter of the Bergen Phil.
Boris Fatualev, solo oboe
– I feel like this is my family. To have such a big group of people to play with gives my life meaning. They are very nice people, very open and everyone actually cares about each other. That’s a really special orchestra, says Boris Fatulaev, solo oboe.
Marie Nøkleby Lemme, solo trombone
– When you sit inside the orchestra, it’s an unbelievable world of sound, and you can feel your whole body vibrate when everyone gives everything they have. It’s an incredible feeling. Playing the trombone is my whole life, and having a job where I get to do that is incredibly fun, says Marie Nøkleby Lemme, solo trombone.
Gregory Koeller, double bass
– We're playing Turangalîla by Messiaen, a piece I've played several times, and it knocks me out every time how original Messiaen is. He makes sounds you just don't hear anywhere else, says Gregory Koeller, double bass.
Eirik Baardsen Haaland, solo horn
– To be named Festival Musicians this year as one ensemble, that matters to us. But I also think it matters for the city of Bergen, that they know there's a seriously great orchestra right here in town, says Eirik Baardsen Haaland, solo horn.
Ellena Armelius, piano
– It's a great honour. I really love playing in the orchestra and I think the people in the orchestra are wonderful musicians, says pianist Ellena Armelius.
Peter Kates, percussion
– I love seeing new faces in the orchestra – just fantastic and really eager to push the orchestra up to the next level. I’m proud of the accomplishments that this orchestra has achieved and the fact that the festival recognises that by naming us Festival Musicians, says percussionist Peter Kates.
A symphony orchestra is a beautiful image of collaboration at its finest. Distinct voices, one community. Interdependence and shared experience – between musicians, and between stage and audience. In the interplay, something greater than the individual emerges.
– Festival director Lars Petter Hagen
Experience the Festival Musicians
Mahler's 2nd
with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra & Esa-Pekka Salonen
An epic contemplation of life and death.
Esa-Pekka Salonen & Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
with Bertrand Chamayou & Cécile Lartigau
Turangalîla – a modern masterpiece of joy and love.
Grieg & Vaular
Closing concert with Yulianna Avdeeva, Lars Vaular, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Bergen legends in Grieghallen.
